2007-09-26

The Dream iTunes Disk?


The dream part will make a little more sense once I finish up a post in progress.

LaCie just announced a new hard drive with iTunes Server support! We've been talking about this at work. We want an iTunes data store that isn't chained to a computer. I don't want to have to run a 200W computer just to access some podcasts on my Apple TV. This looks perfect. From their manual...


Apple has its own protocol known as iTunes. All HipServ’s include iTunes Server support. Computers and DMPs with iTunes support can enjoy their media that is stored on the HipServ. Selected protected content using Apple’s FairPlay DRM will need to adhere to the rules that the content creator has specified. HipServ complies to these requirements and will allow playback if those requirements are met. When UPnP sharing for a folder on your Ethernet Disk mini Home Edition is turned on, the device will appear in iTunes under Shared.


I read that as supporting protected content, as long as the playback device is authorized. Hopefully that includes Apple TVs, and not just authorized computers. This drive isn't nearly as good looking as the new Western Digital My Books or Iomega drives, but it isn't bad, and I should be able to hide it away. Half of me wants to preorder right now. The other half says wait for a review about Apple TV support.

1 comment:

Jason said...

I'll wait to comment more on the "dream" post, as I probably have a feeling what that is about.

This is good to see, but dissapointing at the same time. I like UPnP well-enough (not Microsoft's implementation of it though), but why not just use Bonjour?

I'll have to dig into the specs of this a bit more, but I don't think it is quite what I need yet, although close. I almost have to wonder if this runs the same stuff that an Airport Express runs under the covers.